Top-10 teams falls as Arizona State loses

Bo Barnes scored 18points, including a key 3-pointer late, as Arizona State pulled off a second straight home upset over rival Arizona by holding off the sixth-ranked Wildcats.

TEMPE, ARIZ. >> Bo Barnes took an inbound pass in the corner and immediately threw the ball in the air to run out the clock. By the time it landed on the hardwood, Arizona State’s fans were already racing onto to the court.

Another year, another upset for the Sun Devils — and it never gets old.

Barnes scored 18 points, including a key 3-pointer late, and Arizona State pulled off a second straight home upset over rival Arizona by holding off the sixthranked Wildcats 81-78 on Saturday.

“Every time you beat U of A, it’s an amazing feeling,” said Barnes, who hit all eight of his free throws, including four in the final 19 seconds.

Arizona State (121, 4-6 Pac-12) shook off a lopsided loss to Arizona a month earlier by out-scrapping the Wildcats and working the ball around to get good shots against one of nation’s best defensive teams.

The Sun Devils dominated Arizona inside early and were good from the perimeter all game, hitting 7 of 15 from 3-point range while shooting 50 percent overall.

Unlike a few games this season, Arizona State was able to seal a victory by hitting its free throws, finishing 22 of 28 from the line.

Freshman Tra Holder gave the Sun Devils a lift early, attacking the Wildcats on his way to 15 points and eight assists.

Savon Goodman muscled his way past Arizona’s defenders, scoring 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbing nine rebounds.

The shots went in and the fans stormed the court, a perfect combination for the Sun Devils against their biggest rival.

“You can’t explain it, Goodman said of the fans rushing the court. “It’s one of those things where you get caught in the moment and enjoy it.”

Arizona was caught in the middle of a Sun Devil storm for the second straight season.

The Wildcats (20-3, 8-2) were inconsistent offensively and had too many breakdowns on defense after routing Arizona State in Tucson a month ago.

T.J. McConnell had 25 points and Stanley Johnson added 16 for the Wildcats, who had to fight their way through Arizona State’s onrushing crowd for the second straight season.

“We just weren’t ready, to be honest,” said McConnell, who hit 11 of 19 shots. “When we have a team that is not ready, we aren’t going to win against any team.”

Arizona State had an upset in the Territorial Cup series a year ago in Tempe, pulling out a 6966 win in double overtime.

But that team had Jahii Carson and Jordan Bachynski, and was headed to the NCAA Tournament.

This year’s team is without those two key players and may need a huge late-season push to get into the bracket.

Arizona State already played the Wildcats once this season and didn’t fare too well, blown out 73-49 in Tucson to open the Pac12 season on Jan. 4.

The Sun Devils looked more like the team that beat Arizona last season, going right at the Wildcats.

Holder, who had two points in 12 minutes the first game, was the catalyst, repeatedly beating Arizona defenders off the dribble.

The freshman had a hand in every point during a 9-0 run, finishing the first half with 10 points and five assists. The Sun Devils hits 15 of 29 shots, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range, and led 41-34 at halftime after a steal led to a lastsecond putback by Willie Atwood.

“We did not get the job done on the defensive end, really in any way,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said. “Around the basket we had no rim protector, we had no physicality and it seemed a little too easy.”

Goodman helped Arizona State keep its cushion early in the second half, bulling his way to the rim for eight points in the opening 4 1-2 minutes.

Arizona chipped away at the lead as the game became more chippy, getting it within a single possession with just under 4 minutes left.

The Sun Devils kept them at arm’s length from there.

Gerry Blakes, who had 14 points, hit a 3-pointer to put Arizona State up 68-63 and Barnes helped seal the upset, hitting a fadeaway 3-pointer with 54 seconds left.

“It’s a great day for our guys,” Sun Devils coach Herb Sendek said. “I’m so happy for these players.”